Jump to full article: Zimbabwe Herald (zw), 2009-05-13
Author: Elita Chikwati
Intro: THE good times are rolling again for farmers after the tobacco season started last week.
Under the current system farmers are being paid US$1 500 in cash payouts while the remainder of their proceeds are being deposited in their Foreign Currency Accounts.
While it’s all very well, this is a very precarious period for the farmers as it can make or break them, depending on their spending priorities or how they safeguard their produce.
I understand there was a raging debate on the amount of money that should be paid out to the farmers in cash, with some stakeholders holding the view that farmers should get at least US$500, judging by their conduct in previous seasons.
Some farmers, especially men, have been known to squander the proceeds from their sales.
They have been known, for instance, to marry second or third wives, or "living it up" . . .
Farmers’ unions should come to the forefront because their main responsibility, first and foremost, is to serve the farmer and this is one area that has not been effective.
Kudos to the auction floors for having made adequate provisions for farmers.
. . .
I wish the tobacco growers a bountiful selling season and hope there will be no reports of people committing suicide as a result of misunderstandings over the spending of profits.
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